Library Media Center - Amity Middle School

THE AMSO LIBRARY media center IS A LEARNING AND COLLABORATION SPACE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS AND FACULTY FROM 7:25 A.M. TO 3:30 P.M. MOST SCHOOL DAYS.

The Amity Middle School - Orange Library Media Center seeks to provide all members of the learning community with the services, instruction, resources, and support they need to effectively access, interpret, use, and share information in all media so that they can acquire knowledge through inquiry and critical thinking, create new ideas, contribute to their communities, and gain personal satisfaction.

Library Info & Resources

Audiobooks, E-Books & Films

Audio & E-Books

We have a large collection of Kindle devices available to borrow! Additional web-based materials are available below.

You can check out a Kindle just like a book (for the same length of time, too)! Each Kindle has a tab (although the books listed on each individual Kindle may shift a little), and there is a master book list with Kindle numbers as well.

Please keep in mind we often add copies of books to our Kindles, and we can do that for you if there's a book you'd like to read that isn't offered here on a specific Kindle or as a hard copy.

The lists are intended for you to see what we have available at this time, and I will update it as often as possible.

To check what books we have for Kindle, please check Destiny.

ClevEr Login portal

Click on the Destiny icon, then click on the Amity Middle School Orange, then on Catalog
Search for "Kindle" and all of the books we have on Kindle will populate.

EBSCO eBooks

Hoopla

Libby

Films

View Library Video Resources on Devos

Log In with your username and password and make sure the Domain says amityregion5.
Then, click on AMS Orange, then the AMSO Library Media Center.
From there, you can search for a video and/or just click on one to watch it.

Databases & Other Resources

Databases

ABC CLIO

ABC Series (Databases)

The ABC Series is a large-scale database of information. It is great for research. Some of the topics they include are: culture, history, language, education, food, maps, and national symbols.

Login Information:

Library Card Number: amity

Getting There:

ABC Maps Online: https://www.abcmapsonline.com?c=q3xcEFgsn4

ABC World Culture: https://www.abcworldculture.com?c=q3xcEFgsn4

ABC The USA: https://www.abctheusa.com?c=q3xcEFgsn4

Helpful Resources:

Attached are some helpful resources you may want to consult before/when using the research database, A to Z World Culture.

Accessing A to Z World Cultures & NoodleTools Doc

Brain POP

Clever

Common Sense Media

Common Sense Media "is the leading independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids thrive in a world of media and technology. [They] empower parents, teachers, and policymakers by providing unbiased information, trusted advice, and innovative tools to help them harness the power of media and technology as a positive force in all kids’ lives."

Furthermore, they help "families make smart media choices. [They] offer the largest, most trusted library of independent age-based and educational ratings and reviews for movies, games, apps, TV shows, websites, books, and music. [Their] Parent Concerns and Parent Blog help families understand and navigate the problems and possibilities of raising children in the digital age."

Getting There:

Click here to go to Common Sense Media.

Destiny

You can look up, request, and learn about books we have in the media center through Destiny. You also have access to our databases and other resources on it. Furthermore, in Destiny's Webpath Express, you can find credible articles and resources to suit your research needs.

Login Information:

Log into Clever first by clicking Log in with Microsoft Entra. (It signs you in with your amityregion5.org email.)
Once logged into Clever, click on the Destiny icon.

Getting There:

Click here to log into Clever.

Helpful Resources:

Attached are some helpful resources you may want to consult before/when using Destiny.

Accessing Destiny

Discovery Education

Discovery Education has streaming video, digital textbooks, STEM activities, and tons of great resources to support our growing and inquisitive students.

Login Information:

Log into Clever first.
Once logged into Clever, click on the Discovery Education icon.

Go to Discovery Education's login page.
Click Sign in with Microsoft.

*If it is the first time you have signed in, you may have to click Allow and then Agree.

Username: use your Amity email (@amityregion5.org)
Password: use your Amity password

Getting There:

Click here to log into Clever.

Click here to log directly into Discovery Education.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Use Britannica School as your encyclopedia. You can look up articles, biographies, information on countries, images and videos, and a ton of other things using this database. Once you select what you need, it gives you the option to easy refine your search by choosing sub-categories. You can use this database for almost any research project.

Login Information:

Username: amityms
Password: orange

Getting There:

Click here to go to Encyclopedia Britannica.

Helpful Resources:

Attached are some helpful resources you may want to consult before/when using Encyclopedia Britannica.

Britannica School's Middle Level Tour (Video)
Britannica School's Accessibility and Support Tools (Video)
Britannica School's Search Tools (Video)
Britannica School's User Guide (PDF)

ScienceFlix

"Emphasizing the latest STEM thinking and the Next Generation Science Standards, ScienceFlix® is transforming the way students access science topics, acquire scientific knowledge, and build an abiding interest in science, technology, and engineering."

Login Information:

Username: amityms
Password: amityms

Getting There:

Click here to go to ScienceFlix.

Other Resources

Canva for Education

Canva for Education allows you to create and personalize your own designs from scratch, or choose from thousands of high-quality, copyright-free educational templates. From presentations to posters, and infographics, to worksheets, project-based learning, and lesson plans, the possibilities are endless.

Login Information:

*Make sure you log in by clicking on Continue with email in the purple box. Do NOT use Google (your amityschools account).

*Do NOT log in using Google!

Username: your username@amityregion5.org
Password: your school password

Getting There:

Click here to go to Canva for Education .

Helpful Resources:

Attached are some helpful resources you may want to consult before/when using Canva.

Canva for Education Login Directions

Creative Commons

Creative Commons is a website where you have already been given permission to use, reuse, modify, etc. everything you find on there (images, videos, music). You do not have to worry about copyright infringement if you use things from Creative Commons.

Login Information:

You do not have to log in.

Getting There:

Click here to go to Creative Commons.

Helpful Resources:

Good sites on Creative Commons to use for music:

Good sites to use:

Google Suite

Amity's Google Suite (@amityschools.org) includes most of what you can access in Google (Drive, Docs, Sheets, etc.).

As soon as you sign the Amity Acceptable Use Policy (AUP), Amity creates several accounts for you. One of them is in the Google Suite. Therefore, if you signed the AUP, you already have an Amity Google account created, and you have access to everything in the Amity Google Suite.

You will use this regularly in school, so it is in your best interest to become familiar with it. Because things are stored in the cloud, using the Google Suite is an easy way to work on assignments, projects, etc. at home and at school. If you need help with anything, please come see me.

Login Information:

Username: your Amity email (eg. jacksonpe29@amityschools.org)
Password: your Amity password

Getting There:

Just go to Google, or click here to go to Google.

Helpful Resources:

Attached are some helpful resources you may want to consult before/when using apps in the Google Suite.

Membean

Membean is a guided, engaging vocabulary instruction program that adapts to help students learn and retain the vocabulary words to which they're exposed.

Login Information:

Click Sign in with Google

Username: username@amityschools.org
Password: Your Amity password

If you're having trouble logging on with your email address, go back to the Membean login page and try your firstname_lastname_amso and Amity password. Then, go to your user profile, and make sure you entered your Amity email correctly. If you didn't, change it. It should be your Amity username@amityschools.org.

Getting There:

Click here to go to Membean.

Helpful Resources:

Attached are some helpful resources you may want to consult before/when using Membean.

Membean - Enrolling and Getting Started Doc

Microsoft Office 365

Amity's Microsoft Office 365 (@amityregion5.org) is the cloud platform for Microsoft products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc).

As soon as you sign the Amity Acceptable Use Policy (AUP), Amity creates several accounts for you. One of them is in Office 365. Therefore, if you signed the AUP, you already have an office.com account created, and you have access to everything on it.

Because things are stored in the cloud, using office.com is an easy way to work on assignments, projects, etc. at home and at school. If you need help with anything, please come see me. (:

Login Information:

Username: username@amityregion5.org (eg. jacksonpe29@amityregion5.org)
Password: Amity password

Getting There:

Just go to office.com, or click here to go Microsoft Office 365.

Helpful Resources:

Attached are some helpful resources you may want to consult before/when using apps in Office 365.

NoodleTools

NoodleTools is the citation website Amity uses. Be sure to use it to cite all of your sources in class activities and projects that may require citations.

Login Information:

Getting There:

Click here to go to NoodleTools. You can click on the Clever icon there as well.

Helpful Resources:

Attached are some helpful resources you may want to consult before/when using NoodleTools.

NoRedInk

NoRedInk is a website your English teachers may use to help you practice your grammar. According to their website, "NoRedInk builds stronger writers through interest-based curriculum, adaptive exercises, and actionable data."

Login Information:

Click Sign in with Google
Username: username@amityschools.org
Password: your Amity password

Getting There:

Click here to go to noredink.

Schoology

Schoology is an online learning management system teachers use to manage your classroom in multiple ways. On it, you can create and submit assignments, participate in interactive discussions, perform assessments, collaborate with your peers, and much more!

Login Information:

Log in with your Amity username and password.
- username: Amity username (last name, first two letters of first name, & year of graduation)
  - example: caseju29
- password: Amity password

Getting There:

Click here to log in with Schoology.

Helpful Resources:

Attached are some helpful resources you may want to consult before/when using Schoology.

Screencastify

Screencastify is a Google extension you can add to your school Google account. It gives you the ability to record, narrate, and share videos of whatever is on your computer screen (PowerPoints, internet browsing, etc).

To download Screencastify:

Open Chrome
Log into your amityschools.org Google account
Go to https://www.screencastify.com
Click the button to install the extension on Chrome, and follow the prompts to Allow.

To use Screencastify:

Once you have installed the extension, click on the Screencastify icon to the right of the URL bar to start a video.
The video gets saved in your Google Drive and can then be shared with your teacher.
Need more help? Check out this site: https://help.screencastify.com/ or this handout.

Study Island

Study Island, a standards-aligned, subject area practice and remediation website where students use technology-based, interactive lessons to achieve benchmarks.

Login Information:

Log into Clever first.
Once logged into Clever, click on the Study Island icon.

Getting There:

Click here to sign in with Clever.

Helpful Resources:

Attached are some helpful resources you may want to consult before/when using Study Island.

Study Island Directions for Students and Parents

Turnitin

Turnitin is a website teachers use to work on writing with you. You submit papers to it and teachers can provide personalized feedback as well as monitor your progress as you edit and revise. There are also tools built in to help you improve your writing.

Login Information:

Getting There:

Click here to log in with Turnitin.

Helpful Resources:

Attached are some helpful resources you may want to consult before/when using Turnitin.

Turnitin-Submission Directions

Helpful Tools & Learning Resources

Avoiding Plagiarism

Determining Credibility

Email & Remote Learning Etiquette

EMAIL ETIQUETTE

You are all using email to communicate with your teachers more often than in the past. It is important that you understand how to email your peers and teachers appropriately. Please take a moment to view this video about email etiquette:

View the "Email Etiquette" video

Here's a summary:

1. Use a proper greeting

2. Include a subject

3. Be patient waiting for reply

4. Don't use text lingo

5. Check grammar & spelling

6. Sign your name

REMOTE LEARNING ETIQUETTE

This video outlines remote learning etiquette and expectations. Please make sure you adhere to these expectations any time you are participating in remote learning.

Watch the "Student Expectations for Remote Learning" video

Finding Books From Home

Finding Books from Home

If you're looking for a good book but aren't sure where to look, here are a few ways you can get one!

First, you can get books and ebooks from your local library. Below is the link to the Case Memorial Library. There is also information on their website about how to obtain a library card if you do not have one.

Additionally, you can browse and reserve books during the school year through our Destiny card catalog system (see the Destiny page above).

Moreover, you can access all of our school’s databases from home. A ll needed login information for our databases are on this site.

audiobooks & e-Books

eBooks and Audiobooks: Sync is a free summer (April 30th - July 29th) audiobook program for teens 13+. Register on the website and follow the instructions provided. You will need to download the Sora app, which only works on phones and tablets. For more information, visit the FAQ section.
Poetry & Short Story Reference Center has over 350,000 full-text poems, and 40,000 short stories, as well as articles. Do an advanced search with a blank field, click Full-Text, and then use limiters on the left to sort by poems, short stories etc. Or look at the list of poetic forms or techniques, and add that to your search terms (access until June 30, 2020).
EBSCO eBooks (The eBook High School Collection) includes over 300 fiction books, and many more non-fiction books, on topics like marine biology, trans studies, and bias confirmation. Books are either available in PDF format, or ePub, both of which can be read directly from a browser (access until June 30, 2020).
eBooks: JLG Digital gives readers unlimited access to read books online from any device. From a computer, a username and password is not needed. Just click your book and you’ll be able to read it. From a phone or tablet you’ll need to set up an account. Scroll to the bottom of the webpage for instructions.
eBooks: MackinVIA is a digital platform that provides access to select fiction and non-fiction eBooks on a variety of topics. Watch this tutorial to learn how to navigate this platform. To access the website, log-in using Amity’s credentials: User ID: AmityHS & password: friendship

Helpful Resources:

Helpful Online Extensions & Tools

Web Extensions

Kami

Kami is a Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome extension you can add to your browser. It gives you the ability to edit, annotate, run text recognition, and do many more things.

To download Kami:

Open your browser
Log into your Microsoft account (@amityregion5.org) or Google account (@amityschools.org )
Go to Manage extensions and search for Kami.
Click the button to install the extension, and follow the prompts to Allow.

To use Kami:

Once you have installed the extension, click on the Kami icon to the right of the URL bar.
Any files you work on will be saved there.

Helpful Resources:

Attached are some helpful resources you may want to consult before/when using Kami.

Add the Kami extension

Read&Write Program

All students have access to the free version of Read&Write. Students and teachers can add this Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome extension when logged into their account. It allows students to have anything on the browser read to them. Additionally, it is the text-to-speech extension Google allows for Google apps.

Add the Read&Write extension - chrome

Add the Read&Write extension - Microsoft

It also has a Practice Reading Aloud option although I do not know how accurate it is. Google Docs and other G-Suite programs offer speech-to-text under Tools.

View Information on Practice Reading Aloud

Microsoft Read Aloud & Immersive Reader

For websites, online assessments, PDFs, and many other sources, Microsoft's Read Aloud & Immersive Reader work very well.

1. Use the EDGE browser’s Read Aloud option.

Use this by highlighting any text, right click, and choose Read Aloud. There is also a Read Aloud option (top right of the browser, click on the in the URL bar).

2. Use Immersive Reader (reads and translates, converts to book-type format).

Use this by copying any text and pasting it into the online version of Word (Office 365 => office.com); then click on the View tab and then Immersive Reader.

You can log into Office.com with your username@amityregion5.org and your regular school password.

3. Word 365 also has a speech-to-text option.

Just click on Dictation from the home menu.

Make sure you Allow the program access to your microphone.

Click on Dictation to start and stop the dictation.

Screencastify

To download Screencastify:

Open Chrome
Log into your amityschools.org Google account
Go to https://www.screencastify.com
Click the button to install the extension on Chrome, and follow the prompts to Allow.

To use Screencastify:

Once you have installed the extension, click on the Screencastify icon to the right of the URL bar to start a video.
The video gets saved in your Google Drive and can then be shared with your teacher.
Need more help? Check out this site: https://help.screencastify.com/ or this handout.

Web Tools

Pinning to Your Taskbar

All students can pin things to their taskbars. You just can't right click, so to pin something to your taskbar, follow these directions. (A handout is attached below.)

In the search bar, search for the app you want to pin.
Click on Open file location.
Click on Application Tools.
Click on Pin to taskbar.

Pin to Taskbar Doc

Snipping Tool

The Snipping Tool is a really easy way to take a “screenshot”. You can snip whatever you need, save it as a picture file, and submit it as evidence of your work.

In the Microsoft Windows search bar in the bottom left corner of your screen, type in “Snip”.
The Snipping Tool will populate. Click on it.
Pull up whatever you want to snip, and click New in the Snipping Tool dialog box.
1. As soon as you click New, you’ll notice your cursor becomes a plus sign +.
Use your + to draw the box around whatever you want to snip.
1. It will automatically copy what you snip.
2. Then, you can either paste your snip into an email/document or save it as a picture file.
To save it, click File, Save As, and choose where you’d like to save the file.

View The Snipping Tool Handout

Portrait Of The Graduate

Portrait of the Graduate (POG) outlines the skills, knowledge, and dispositions that students across all grade levels should have. It is a promise that our educators make to ALL our students to prepare our students for the world beyond school. Additionally, a Portrait of the Graduate should reflect what our community values for our graduates.

Learn more about the Portrait of The Graduate

View POG Templates

Library Catalog

Library Info & Policies

The Amity AMSO Library Media Center provides a wide variety of print and digital resources, equipment, and services to support the curriculum and to serve the personal needs of students and staff. Available resources include fiction and nonfiction books, print publications, films, online specialized databases and research tools, and a growing ebook and audiobook collection.

All students are invited to visit the library with teacher permission for academic or personal information needs. They are welcome to read, write, study, print or seek help from Mrs. Yeakel. The library is normally open from 7:25 A.M. to 3:30 P.M.

Acceptable Use Policy

The Amity Regional School District requires that students agree to the Acceptable Use Policy for technology use. Technology access and resources in the library are subject to the same agreement. Computers in the library are to be used for information seeking for personal or school purposes, and not for entertainment (gaming, movies, TV, music videos).

Acceptable Use Policy

Borrowing Books

Books may be borrowed for two weeks and renewed if no one else has requested them.
Students are allowed a two day-school day grace period after the two week loan period.
At the conclusion of the grace period, students will be charged an overdue fee for each day it is late.
Automatic emails are sent twice a week to students and parents/guardians regarding late or unreturned books.
Students who fail to return their borrowed books after a month will be charged the full replacement cost, and the charge will be recorded in PowerSchool.
At any point, if a book is not returned, and we need to purchase a replacement copy, students will be responsible for the replacement cost.

Borrowing Electronics

Chromebook Borrowing Policies

Chromebooks may be borrowed for duration of the school day only, and students are expected to return their borrowed Chromebook prior to leaving school for the day.
Students are responsible for replacement costs of any item not returned.
Students are responsible for replacement costs of any damaged items returned.

Kindle Borrowing Policies

Kindles may be borrowed for two weeks, just like books.
Students are expected to return the charging cord and power adapter loaned out in conjunction with the Kindle.
Students are responsible for replacement costs of any item not returned.
Students are responsible for replacement costs of any damaged items returned.

Selection & Deselection

Challenged Materials

Department

Kristin Yeakel

Titles: Library Media Specialist

Email:

Barbara Cassesse

Titles: Administrative Assistant

Email: